Book-rest.



J. HARRISON.

BOOK REST.

APPLICATION FILED 001125. 1913.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

attorneys IINI'IEE STATE PATENT QFFIQEQ JOSEPHINE HARRISON, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

BOOK-REST.

Application fi1ed October 25, 1913.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Josnrnnvn HARRISON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book-Rests; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to furniture, and more especially to book rests; and the object of the same is to provide a simple and inexpensive book rest whose parts are capable of folding into small compass for storage and transportation, whose table may be adjusted in one of three working positions or laid out fiat over the brace, and whose ledge is useful for holding the books open whatever the position of the table.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, being shown in the accompanying drawings in which similar characters indicate corresponding parts and in which Figure 1 is an isometric View of my invention in use, a fragment of a book being shown in position thereon, a variation of position being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my invention when folded or collapsed.

In constructing my invention I provide a base 1 having rising therefrom and solidly attached thereto or formed integral there with, as desired, a rib 2. Attached to rib 2 by suitable folding means, as by hinges 3, I provide table 4. Foldingly attached to base 1, as by hinges 5, I provide brace 6 for bracing or supporting table 4 at the desired angle, as clearly illustrated in the drawings.

Brace 6 is hinged at its front corner to base 1 in such a manner that it cannot be moved to the rear beyond the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the same being approximately perpendicular to base 1. As clearly appears in the drawings, when brace 6 has been raised to the dotted line position, its edge adjacent the hinges contacts with base 1 like a knuckle joint and prevents further outward movement.

Table 4 is of suflicient length to extend from the rib 2, where it is hinged, to the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 113, 191?.

Serial No. 797,340.

top edge of brace 6 when brace 6 is in its dotted line position, 6. approximately perpendicular to base 1.

It will thus be apparent that the table 4. cannot be collapsed by the movement of brace G to the rear because the brace 6 cannot move beyond a point where it will support the table 4.

One or more notches or grooves 7 may be provided if desired in the bottom or back of table 4 for engaging the upper edge of brace 6, but this is not part of my invention for in practice it will usually be found unnecessary, the weight of table 4 being sufficient, when resting upon the upper edge of brace 6, to hold brace 6 in any desired position in which it is placed in contact with table 4. It is obvious that no notches or other special engaging means are required to maintain table 4 and brace 6 in engagement in either the full line or dotted line positions shown in Fig. 1. The same is true of other positions in which these parts may be brought into engagement unless the surfaces of the parts are made very smooth in which case notches or grooves may be employed to maintain the engagement of these parts in such other positions.

I also provide a ledge or book retaining member 8 foldingly attached, as by hinges 9, to base 1 at a suitable distance from rib 2, and here again the hinge is so located that it acts like a knuckle joint so as to cause the edge of the ledge to rest upon base 1 and prevent it from opening beyond position shown at Fig. 1. 7

It will be understood that brace 6 is so proportioned to the space between rib 2 and hinge 5 as to fold therein as clearly shown at Fig. 2 and that rib 2 is of sufficient height to allow table 4 to fold flatly over brace 6 as also clearly shown at Fig. 2.

It will also be understood that the ledge 8 is so proportioned to the space between rib 2 and hinge 9 as to fold therein as clearly shown at Fig. 2.

When the parts are adjusted as shown in Fig. 1 it is apparent that a book laid open upon table 4 will be supported thereby in an inclined position, the degree of incline being determined by the position of brace 6 so that by moving brace 6 the table 4 and the book carried thereby will be raised or lowered to the desired incline for reading.

It will also be apparent that the ledge 8 will hold the book in place upon table 4 and will also keep the leaves of the book from turning.

Also it will be apparent that papers and similar articles not in ordinary book form may be handled upon this device in a similar manner and with result as above described.

When not in use the parts are collapsed or folded into compact form shown in Fig. 2, which is made possibleby the construction above described.

What I claim is:

A book rest, comprising a base, a longitudinal rib secured to the base, a table hinged to the rib and foldable parallel with the base, said rib being parallel with and spaced from one longitudinal edge of the base to provide a support for the edge of the book directly on the base, between the rib and said longitudinal edge, a brace and a book retaining strip hinged on opposite longitudinal edges of the base and having their movement limited to approximately ninety degrees, the brace and strip being foldable toward each other on the base with their free edges adjacent opposite sides of the rib, said brace being adapted to maintain the table in operative position.

In testimony whereof, I affix niy'signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPHINE HARRISON. Witnesses:

GEORGE A. CHASE, CABLE lVI-IITEHEAD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

